Okay, I'm really tired...my eyes are tired, my body is tired but when I go to bed, I can't sleep. It's not that I can't go to sleep, but I'm fighting it for some reason.
I put off going to bed all night. During the day, I think 'hey, I'm going to bed tonight because I'm really tired and I need to get some sleep.' Then when It's time for bed, I totally fight it I feel like a two year old that won't go to sleep.

WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH ME?

It sounds like you are keyed up or stressed over something Pup. Also you can sometimes reach the point where you've become so overtired your body's natural rhythm is out of wack.
I've had that happen a few times..I take a warm bath, head directly to bed and conscentrate on notthinking about anything but relaxing.
Let me know if this helps....

Because you're silly, that's why!

No, don't worry, Pup, I do the same thing. I get up at a godawful hour for work and all I can think is, "I am going to bed early tonight!" and then for one reason or another I'm up 'til midnight. I know better, I just kind of put it off and put it off and then pow! it's midnight and I have to be up in five hours. It's madness, I tell you!

The only thing I can really suggest is, go to bed. If you are tired and you know you should sleep, go to bed. You have to make yourself do it. There is no good reason to stay up, there is nothing to be done, just go to bed and sleep. Your body will thank you.

Well, it could be worse, you could have night terrors like me, and fall down your steps in your sleep, lol.
But really, Pup, we need 8 hours of sleep according to my sleeping disorder doctor, I just went back to him last month, and he told me that. I had a relapse on my nightmares, and was running down the steps again in my sleep, so he changed my meds. Now all I take is an atavan, smallest dosage, and it works, not saying you should.
Our bodies need to relieve the stress somehow, and that's why I think I have night terrors, its reacting after I fall asleep. So what to do? I don't know. A good hot bath, maybe some yoga, something to calm you down. Just be glad you don't have to worry about sleepwalking like I do, LOL.
Hope you figure it out and sweet dreams!

Puppy, you have pneumonia again.

Really sick people do not sleep well. They need the rest MORE THAN THE REST OF US however.

You need to be keeping your BUTT in that bed, drinking lots of water, and relaxing as much as possible.

You will cause yourself to remain sick and NOT RECOVER VERY WELL... and you WILL GET SICK again!

Chamomile tea is helpful, warm bath, cozy bed with your favorite beddings.

Try turning off the TV earlier and reading a book, or listening to quieting music such as classical or opera or New Age (Nix the opera if you understand what they are saying, all so sad you know )

Dim the lights, light a candle, or candles a few hours before bed time. The mellow yellow light is soothing to the heart and brain.

Perhaps it is also due too the summer day length. As we all know summer time has long days and short nights. Maybe closing curtains, drawing the shades earlier will kick your body into thinking that it's night when it is only 7 or 8 o'clock.

Personally I can not sleep when the moon is full and when it is near full. The moon light keeps me awake. In order to cure that, we hung beach towels behind the curtains.

Warm milk really does work. Counting sheep do not - Least ways not for me, I start fighting sleep in order to continue counting

Reduce or remove caffinated products in the afternoon. I have a set pattern which gives me three cups of coffee in the morning before work (Coffee being the most important meal of the day you know), and I allow myself a cup/glass of caffinated tea all the way up to 4:00 pm. I also allow myself chocolate or regular coke until 4:00. After 4:00pm no chocolate, I can have de-caffinated sodas, and plenty of herbal teas which are natural free of caffeine.

Also try eating a fatty meal about an hour before bed. Fatty foods tend to cause drowsiness in people. Reduce carbs at night, carbs turn into sugars which are released into the blood stream over a long period of time - perhaps if you cut the carbs in the evening, your body will have less energy at bed time.

And sugar - not at night!

It might be stress, try meditation, No, you do not have to sit cross legged and utter "Ohmmmmmm" over and over again, meditation can be as simple as sitting (or laying) and letting your mind wander a bit, letting the thoughts come and go as they please without latching on and following a thought.

Deep, methodical breathing while relaxing causes the body to take in more oxygen, gets the blood saturated so the heart doesn't have to beat as fast, when the heart slows down, the rest of the body does as well.

Cheers

David

Puppy, fight the urge to go on the computer at night when you can't sleep. Remember what Georgia said before about the light from your screen messing up your circadium rthyms.

Also, if you are very stressed, your sleep will be disrupted. As a last resort, have you talked to your doctor? I have a friend who suffers horrible insomnia and her doctor has prescribed her Ambian which is a sleep aid that helps her to get 8 hours of sleep. You can't stay on it long for fear of becoming dependent, but if your doctor thinks it could be right for you, it could help you get back into a regular nighly sleeping pattern.

Try the warm baths, warm milk, and soothing music first. But if those little wheels in your head don't slow down, you may need to turn to your doctor for some help.

Sher's right, if you don't get some rest, you'll run your body down. You're not the energizer bunny, so remember that you don't operate on batteries!

You mean somebody actually paid attention to my biology lesson?

All very sound advice. You could also try a drop of lavender essential oil on your pillow too, as this helps with insomnia as well as aiding mental relaxation.

The more you actually wory about not sleeping the worse it becomes, so try not to get too het up about it.

And if all else fails, a lettuce sandwich before bed usually works for me

I'm sure you've seen these pup, but here are two threads with suggestions for fighting insomnia:
here and here.

Or maybe it's just in your genes.

Great tips everyone. Thanks

The lettuce sandwich is strange though

Thanks for the links, methos

The lettuce sandwich is definitely without mayo

It may sound strange, but the combination of carbohydrate and nutrients in the lettuce and the bread, are the perfect match to help induce slumber. Honest !!

If you don't believe me, try it

I'm the type of person that needs some noise to fall asleep. If I'm on the couch, I turn on the TV news, if I'm in bed I turn on talk radio.

Having someone to snuggle with helps too.

What is really bothering you puppyblues?

It sounds like an avoidance tactic to me.

What are you worried about?

I'll try that, marky

NC and Adi, I think you hit the nail on the head there. I just don't know what it is, but it's something.

Puppy, you're just getting used to a new life. This can be stressful as well as exciting. Things will settle down and the new will eventually become your routine.

I had a really rough time sleeping when I was going through my divorce. My mind would run a 1000 miles a minute as I laid there in the dark. I combated this with exercise. I would run every night after work so that my body would be physically tired. The plus was that I lost a lot of weight and looked and felt great! Unfortunately, I didn't keep that up, so now I'm back to "the chubby" build, but I do sleep great!!!

Things will get better! Just don't let your body run down while you're healing.

Thanks Oceangurl, but I haven't started my new life yet, which very well could be what my problem is. I know that it's coming up, I have a plan in place...but the wait really sucks. I have to figure out how to stop thinking I guess. And it's not like I'm not tired. I am, I just fight it. I'll look for anything to do other then go to bed. Be on the computer, reading, watching TV, even cleaning things. I just don't want to go to bed. Once I get there, I will sleep good.

Puppy you know im the same way you are. I stay up till I usually just am so tired i get so darn grumpy! Ask around I don't know why I hate giving up but I do. Sleep seems like mostly a waste of time for me. Course lately with the mono Ive made up for it..

It really just sound like stress, to me. Stress can keep you awake, and when you do fall asleep, it can keep you from sleeping well. Maybe, the old tactic of closing your eyes, and counting sheep will help.

best advice ever, eat turkey.
ever notice how people fall asleep like crazy after thanksgiving dinner?

another thing, if you dont hate going to them, maybe try a chiropractor.
i couldnt sleep a few months ago, my doctor suggested it. after popping a few things back into place and working on my back, i slept like a baby for a few months.